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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021200

Exhibition in Bangkok brings latest printing and technology for Thai entrepreneurs

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

Nongluck Ajanapanya

Around 200 exhibitors from 28 countries worldwide have brought their latest printing and packaging technologies that are environmentally friendly to showcase to Thai entrepreneurs at Bitec Bangna.

Kriengkrai Thiennukul, president of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), said at the opening ceremonies of the “Pack Print International 2022” and “Corrutec Asia 2022” on Wednesday that there is still high demand in Thailand for printing and packaging. 

People’s purchasing habits have changed, and they are ordering more daily products online. Therefore, business or product owners must redesign their packaging to make it more appealing and functional.

He added that the overall outlook for printing and packaging in Asia is improving. To keep pace, Thailand must not only transform its businesses to be more digital and resilient, but also keep business owners updated on global trends.
 

He explained that young consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the environment, while many countries, particularly in the West, are looking for credible and environmentally friendly producers. According to one study, 80 per cent of consumers are now willing to use eco-friendly products, even if the price is higher than for standard products.

Meanwhile, the exhibition will also serve as a venue for showcasing Thailand’s potential and readiness to serve as the Asean’s centre for printing and packaging, Kriengkrai said.
 

The managing director of Messe Düsseldorf Asia, Gernot Ringling, who organised the event said the printing and packaging industry would gradually grow following the global recovery.

The printing industry in Asia is expected to grow by 26.1 per cent between 2022 and 2030. Although China, India, and Japan will continue to be the largest markets for printing and packaging in terms of production and consumption, Thailand’s new business model, known as the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy, will increase the country’s competitiveness and provide more opportunities for growth, according to Ringling.

The “Pack Print International 2022” and “Corrutec Asia 2022” is open until October 22 at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (Bitec) in Bangna.

Nongluck Ajanapanya

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021199

House panel may summon PM in probe into alleged corruption in military housing project

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

A House of Representatives committee aims to summon Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to clarify on alleged graft in a military housing project.

The Committee on Political Development, Mass Communications, and Public Participation on Wednesday received a letter from lawyer Paisarn Ruangrit and victims, asking it to investigate graft in the military housing project, which resulted in the Nakhon Ratchasima massacre of 2020.

An Army sergeant-major shot dead 29 people and injured 58 others in Nakhon Ratchasima province reportedly due to a conflict with an Army officer and others involved in the project, which allows those in lower ranks to borrow money to buy houses.

The committee chairman, Nattacha Boonchaiinsawat, said the lawyer and victims have urged the Defence Ministry to clarify the case as no progress has been made since the massacre.

He explained that the lawyer and victims had also attached documents related to the case, such as contractors’ bribe payments to construction inspectors.

The lawyer and victims also claimed that the Army procedures and problems that soldiers are facing are due to corruption by senior Army officers, he said.

“Hence, it is necessary to summon Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who is also Defence Minister, and Deputy Defence Minister General Chaichan Changmongkol to clarify the case,” he said.

Meanwhile, Paisarn said this move aims to protect people and prevent a repeat of the tragedy because this case was concealed since 2020.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021197

Three expressways free on Sunday

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

Motorists won’t have to pay any toll fees when using three expressways during Chulalongkorn Memorial Day on Sunday, the Expressway Authority of Thailand (Exat) said on Wednesday.

Exat said the exemption was aimed at allowing motorists to return to their home provinces or travel during the three-day holiday from Saturday to Monday next week.

The national holiday on Monday is a substitution for Chulalongkorn Memorial Day.

Motorists can use the three expressways free of charge on Sunday from 00.01am to midnight.

The three are:

– Chalerm Maha Nakhon Expressway with 19 toll gates

– Sirat (Second Stage and Outer Ring Road) Expressway with 31 gates

– Udon Ratthaya (Bang Pa-in-Pak Kret) Expressway with 10 gates.

Chulalongkorn Memorial Day marks the death of His Majesty King Chulalongkorn, or King Rama V, aiming to commemorate his graceful reign from October 1, 1868, to October 23, 1910.

The King had travelled around the world, especially in Europe, to promote Thailand as a developing, independent nation. This was after the kingdom lost a lot of territory, including Laos, in the 1893 Franco-Siamese War, or the Incident of RS 112.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021195

BMA deploys teams of ‘dust detectives’ to inspect causes of PM2.5 dust in capital

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has dispatched teams of “dust detectives” to detect and study causes of PM2.5 dust particles in the capital to minimise hazardous air pollution during winter.

BMA spokesman Ekwaranyu Amrapan said the deployment of dust inspectors was among measures the city administration had considered during a recent meeting of the committee in charge of prevention and tackling PM2.5 — dust less than 2.5 microns in diameter — pollution.

The spokesman said the city administration anticipated that the air quality in Bangkok would worsen during the winter season when the air pressure was high, so it convened a meeting of the committee, which has representatives from agencies outside the BMA.

The teams of inspectors would study the causes of PM2.5 and would seek help from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry to try and improve the air quality as soon as possible, Ekwaranyu added.

The spokesman said the BMA would integrate its operations with the ministry to try to increase green areas in the capital to absorb dust and carbon emissions.

The BMA also has increased its capability to detect and predict air quality three days in advance. The air quality forecast will be displayed via BMA Traffic app and on road signs of the BMA’s Traffic and Transport Department, the spokesman added.

The city administration will also expand its air quality measuring devices to 1,000 spots around the capital from the current 557 spots, Ekwaranyu said.

The spokesman said the city administration would seek help from traffic police and the Pollution Control Department to step up measuring black fumes from vehicles to try to minimise PM2.5 pollution during the winter.

The checks will especially focus on large trucks and trucks of construction materials used by large construction sites, the spokesman added.

Moreover, the BMA would check all concrete batching plants in Bangkok at least once a month to ensure that they do not violate the limit in creating dust.

As a long-term plan, the spokesman said the BMA and the Thai Health Promotion Foundation would provide a special class in school to instil right behaviour among students so that they would not grow up causing pollution.

The project would be kicked off at City Hall on October 28, the spokesman said.

The BMA will also cooperate with the National Research Council of Thailand to hold a seminar on November 4 titled, “To cope with PM2.5 with research and innovations”.

The seminar is aimed at hearing academic opinions on how to prevent and solve the issue of PM2.5 pollution in the capital, the spokesman said.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021193

Hearththrob Tono’s ambitious bid to swim across Mekong for public good is not quite winning hearts

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

Why is Tono’s plan to emulate Toon Bodyslam drawing more flak than praise?

Tono Phakhin wants to do good for society by swimming across the Mekong River, following in the footsteps of Toon Bodyslam who once embarked on a much-lauded charity run, but finds himself caught in the crosshairs.

When Toon Bodyslam ran 2,215 kilometres in 2017 to raise funds for hospitals, he won overwhelming public praise and support. This year, Tono Phakin planned an alternative version of fundraising by swimming across the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province, but his plan has apparently drawn more criticism than praise.

On Saturday, Phakin “Tono” Khamwilaisak, a heartthrob actor, will swim 15 kilometres from Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand to Khammouane province in Laos and back to raise funds for a Thai and a Lao public hospital.

Tono announced his plan to raise funds for the Nakhon Phanom Hospital and a Lao hospital in Thakhek, Khammouane province, in early September when he made a trip to the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom to start making preparations.

As per his plan, he would swim along the Thai side of the Mekong River from Phaya Sri Sattana ground for about five kilometres, to the cheers of his fans, before he would swim five km across the river to reach the Lao side at Wat Phathat Si Khottabon in Thakhek. He may rest briefly and swim back for another five km.

If Tono was aiming to emulate the celebrated 2,215-km run from Betong in Yala province to Mae Sai in Chiang Rai by Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai, lead singer of the rock band Bodyslam, he was in for a shock. His plan has drawn severe criticism, especially from Thai netizens.

In 2017, Toon ran for 55 days — from November 1 to December 25 — and raised 1.3 billion baht, which he shared with several public hospitals. His charity run did not make a fuss at all, apparently because he organised it on his own without bothering state agencies. State agencies only lent minimal help by controlling traffic for his run on some busy roads.

But Tono’s plan has drawn flak apparently because of several factors, including concerns for his own safety.

When he announced his plan in early September, the country was being hit by a series of storms and heavy rains and the Mekong River was bloated.

Many of his fans voiced fears that he might be washed away by the strong currents of the bloated Mekong and that officials involved in the organising of the event might be blamed and held responsible.

Some observers suspect that the criticisms stemmed from Thai movie fans’ grudge against him because of a personal issue. Tono was once a boyfriend of Pataratida “Tangmo” Pacharawirapong, who tragically drowned in the Chao Phraya River.

When Tangmo was still missing in the Chao Phraya, many of her fans demanded that Tono say something, but he remained silent although he came to the scene to help search for her body.

There is a Thai saying: “Once disliked, always disliked, and dislike can grow to hatred.”

It is speculated that the strong criticism of Tono’s plan has been precipitated by the personal issue as well.

Tono’s swimming plan repeatedly drew a flood of criticism on social networks.

Recently, a Thai Twitter user leaked a copy of a document from a meeting of local government agencies in Nakhon Phanom held for making preparations to facilitate the charity swim.

The Twitter user noted the document showed that Tono’s team had sought support from local agencies for up to 33 items on the long list.

“OMG, one man swims but he sought so much support. He asked more than what should be prepared for a prime minister’s reception event,” the Twitter post said.

“He said he would not be anyone’s burden but this is heavier than a burden. You’ll go swimming, not for war, won’t you? Who will pay for these expenses?”

According to the leaked document, Tono’s team asked local agencies to prepare a carpeted ground for the abbot of Wat Phra That Phanom to pray before the start of the swim and to organise a dance show of 200 dancers.

The team also asked for dozens of rooms as free accommodation and over a 100 free lunch boxes.

The manager of the event organiser, Kritsanah Boonyapattaro, came out to defend Tono and the team. He said the local agencies had offered to help Tono because he would bring reputation to the province. Kritsanah noted that Tono shouldered more expenses than what were stated in the document.

When criticism of Tono was at its peak, a Thai fan commented on Tono’s Instagram page that a former Laotian ambassador to Thailand had asked her to notify the Thai actor it would be illegal if he swims to Laos without seeking permission for entry.

But Tono replied to the comment that he has sought permission and the Laotian officials supported the swim and had made preparations on the Lao side for him.

In the latest drama, a Facebook user criticised Tono and an unnamed university for allowing the actor to use the advanced water tunnel facility at the university for testing his physical readiness and his lung capability for the charity swim.

The Facebook user said he used to study at a faculty of the university and lecturers there told him that the tunnel was rarely used because of the high expenditure it entailed for each use. The Facebook user wondered why Tono was allowed to use it free of charge.

While the public expressed concern that it would not be safe for Tono to swim across the bloated Mekong, Amarin TV interviewed three experienced local swimmers who expressed confidence it would be safe for Tono to do so.

The three, Prasit Pathadee, 44, Thanatnon Nonthawong, 36, and Suthep Phanthaset 64, said it would not be dangerous to swim across the Mekong if a swimmer knew the right tricks. They offered to swim along with Tono if invited. A trick offered by them was to let the body float along with the tide.

Despite the barrage of criticism, Tono is standing firm on his mission.

He said on his Instagram page that he had gone through his final training on Tuesday and was now ready for the charity swim. He said donations have so far risen to over 5 million baht.

On Wednesday, Tono and his team travelled to Nakhon Phanom to make final preparations for his “One Man & The River – One Man Swims, Many Donate” charity swim that will take place on Saturday.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021192

NBTC urged to make a decision on planned True-Dtac merger

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

A telecommunications academic urged the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to decide on the planned merger between two telecom giants as avoiding this would affect consumers and become a norm.

Suebsak Suebpakdee said the NBTC should also consider the merger between True Corporation and Total Access Communication (Dtac) in various aspects, such as consumer protection, service fees and fair competition, before making a decision on Thursday.

He said the NBTC has authority to consider telecommunication operators’ reports before and after the merger, and launch additional measures if society is uncertain over fees, quality and customer service.

“We understand the NBTC must consider this merger deal carefully as this issue is in the public interest,” he said.

The NBTC had set up working teams and subcommittees to study the merger. It also sought help from other agencies, such as Chulalongkorn University and the Office of the Council of State.

Suebsak said it is normal for consumers to be concerned about the impact of the deal on service fees and other related issues as the telecommunications business involves various aspects, such as telecom spectrum licences and service fees.

Suebsak Suebpakdee

He did not expect service fees to rise by 200 per cent as some subcommitee members believe, as the NBTC has a mechanism to control such fees and ensure there is no market domination.

He also pointed out that the telecommunication service fee is currently lower than the fee by NBTC.

“The NBTC now has plenty of information, so we believe it is time to make a decision on this merger deal because avoiding a decision will affect consumers and become a norm,” he said.

Suebsak also pointed out that people are keeping an eye on the NBTC whether it has already made full use of its knowledge and skills to tackle thorny issues.

He said all five NBTC board members have a right to vote and explain reasons for their decision.

“Hence, we would like to ask the NBTC board members to be confident that they are working in line with their duties,” he said, adding that society is ready to listen if they have a good reason for their decision.

He also expects the NBTC to maintain a balance between supporting the telecommunications industry and protecting consumers.

Separately, the Thailand Consumers Council has invited people to hear the NBTC’s decision on the merger of the two telecom giants at the NBTC headquarters in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district on Thursday at 9am.

On its Facebook post on Wednesday, the council said the NBTC must reveal all reports from its advisers and open hearings with the public, as this merger deal affects people nationwide.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021181

Downgraded Typhoon Nesat expected to bring only light rain in North

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

Typhoon Nesat has been downgraded to a tropical storm over the upper South China Sea, the Thai Meteorological Department reported on Wednesday.

In a weather advisory, the department said Nesat is likely to move through southern Hainan and make landfall in upper Vietnam on Thursday and Friday.

But once it hits Vietnam, it is expected to decline rapidly and affect only upper Thailand with isolated light rain.

The advisory added that from Wednesday to Saturday a monsoon trough lies across the middle South while southwest winds across the Andaman Sea and the South will be stronger amid continuous showers and isolated torrential rains.

The department expected stronger winds would whip up 2-3-metre-high waves in the Andaman Sea and more than 3 metres in areas with thundershowers. Meanwhile, waves in the Gulf of Thailand will be 1-2 metres high, or more than 2 metres during thunderstorms.

The department advised people in the South to beware of severe conditions that may cause flash floods.

It also instructed all ships on the west coast to proceed with caution while small boats in the Andaman Sea should keep ashore until Saturday.

The department asked people to follow weather warnings via the website or hotline 1182.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021182

Srisuwan’s alleged assaulter arrested at Bangkok parking lot

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

A red-shirt supporter, who made headlines on Tuesday by allegedly assaulting activist Srisuwan Janya at the Technology Crime Suppression Division, was arrested on Wednesday afternoon at the parking lot of Maleenont Building on Rama IV Road.

Veeravit Rungruengsiripol allegedly assaulted Srisuwan on Tuesday when the activist was filing a police complaint against comedian Udom “Nose” Taepanich for violating the Computer Related Crimes Act, among others, through his recent stand-up comedy performance.

Veeravit reportedly punched and kicked the activist in the face and head before police broke up the fight.

Amid the commotion, Veeravit was reportedly seen riding a motorcycle away from the scene.

Read more Master complainer Srisuwan gets a kick and a punch for latest complaint

Srisuwan, who leads the Society for Defence of Thai Constitution, filed an assault charge on Tuesday against Veeravit, 62, also known as “Uncle Sak”, a supporter of the red-shirt movement.

After his arrest, police found that Veeravit also has an outstanding warrant for allegedly assaulting Seksakol Atthawong, the former vice minister of the Prime Minister’s Office in 2021.

Veeravit is now being questioned at the Crime Suppression Division.

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021175

Virus expert voices concern about new XBB, BQ.1.1 subvariants mixing

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

Two new Covid subvariants, XBB and BQ.1.1, could potentially mix together and form a new subvariant that is even better at evading immunity, a virus expert expressed concern on Wednesday.

Dr Anan Jongkaewwattana posted on Facebook that XBB and BQ.1.1 are likely to replace BA.5, which is currently a dominant subvariant, for the upcoming winter/cold season.

XBB was recently discovered in Asia, while BQ.1.1 has mostly been reported in Europe and the Americas.

“These two subvariants have mutations at similar positions on their spikes, which enable them to evade immunity created by Covid-19 vaccines or in patients who have recovered from previous infections,” said Anan, who is a director of the Veterinary Health Innovation and Management Research Group Unit, National Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

Anan said XBB has “more mutating positions” than BQ.1.1, making it more efficient in evading immunity and infecting human cells. Meanwhile, BQ.1.1 has a mutation in position L452R that XBB does not have, which helps it infect the ACE2 receptor, a protein on the surface of many human cell types.

“If these two mix together, they could create a new subvariant that has both advantages, resulting in a more infectious version of Covid-19,” Anan warned.

Thailand reported its first XBB case is a 48-year-old Thai woman who developed a cough and blocked nose before visiting hospital on September 27. She tested positive for Covid but did not develop fever and recovered on October 6 after two weeks of home isolation.

The second case was a 60-year-old foreign woman who developed a cough and tested positive with an ATK kit on September 27, a day before visiting hospital.

The Medical Sciences Department said on Monday there was no need to panic since the XBB strain, like other Omicron subvariants, is a weak version of the virus.

The BQ.1.1 subvariant, meanwhile, has not spread in Thailand yet, according to the Department of Disease Control.

Related News

BQ.1.1, XBB variants have not spread in Thailand yet: Disease Control Dept

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https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40021168

Phuket flood situation easing: governor

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2022

The flood situation in Phuket is easing after three days of high water levels, Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew reported on Wednesday.

Narong praised Phuket residents for their cooperation and fighting spirit during the crisis.

He said it was fortunate the situation did not last long, especially in Mueang Phuket district, which was affected only for a day.

However, the situation in Ratsada subdistrict in Mueang Phuket might take one or two more days to return to normal, he said, adding that be brought together several organisations and employed water pumps to tackle flooding.

Narong also said the installation of a temporary bailey bridge at Khlong Bang Neow Dam might take around three days to finish as the old one had broken.

Only five households were affected by transportation issues but they have enough food, he said.

Meanwhile, Chaowalit Nitrarat, director of the Centre for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Phuket, said villagers had built the old bridge and it was used for a long time before being destroyed by heavy current.

He explained it would take three days to install the bailey bridge because several heavy iron sections needed transportation and must be installed carefully.

Srisunthon Subdistrict Municipality will set a budget for construction and repairs of the new bridge under a long-term solution, Chaowalit added.